View of the city of New-Orange (now New York) as it was in the year 1673

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VIEW

CITY OF NEW-ORANGE,

(NOW KEW-YORK,)

AS XT WAS IN- THE YEAR

^m%:

WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES,

BY JOSEPH W. MOULTON, Esq..

Sovtiiern Dislric! n/JVew-Yorfc, ss.

HE IT i E[\IK^.B^.R5 r, That on the second day of
August, A D. iy-25. in \[u liftieth year of 'he inde-pend^i.t'e
of ti>e Uniled .-^latesol" America, Josrvu Vv IVIoui.to.n. l.sq.
of the saifl district, hath deposited in tijis oifice the tilU- of a
book, the tight whereoi he claims as proprietor, in <he words
following, <o wit .

*' riew of the City oj New- Oravge, (now Nev-York,) as
it was in tht year Iblo. li ilh Explanatory Notes. By Jo-
seph IV. Mouitcu, Lsq.^^

]\ CONFORMITY to > he act of Congress of the United States,
entitled, •* An act for the encourngera^.t of learning, by se-
curing the copies ut in^ips. charts, and l.'orjks, lo the authors
and p'oprietors ot.such copies, during the time tlierein men-
tioned ," fliid also, to an act, entitled, " An act supplemen-
tary to an act, entitled, an act for the encoura-t rnent of
learning, by securing the cofjies of maps, citarts a'ld i)ooks,
to tht authors snd proprietors of such copies, during the
times therein mentioned,' and extending the benefits thereof
to til.- arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical
and other prints.

JAMES DILL,
Clerk of the Southern District of T^ew-York.

tA^\

REPERENCIBS TO THE EXPLANATIONS,

OP THE LETTERS AND FIGURES MARKED UPON THE VIEW.

Leiters.^heL A, page 23. B, 25. C, 25, 29. D,
25, 32. E, 25. F, 28. G, 30. H, 30, 23. I, 31, 39.
K, 31—33. 10, 13, 15, 19. L, 34, 11, 14. M, 36, 19.
N, 36, 10. O. 36. P, 37. Q, 38. R, 34, 35, 24. S,
29, 26, 25. T, 35.

Fizures.—F\^, 1. page 24,23. 2. 29, 30. 3.29,30.
4. 30, 31. 6. 6. 7. 35, 39. 8. 23. 9. 35 10. 36,35.
11. 36.

Objects not indicated by letters or figures on the Vieio : —
/iz. Streets — PearL page 23, 24. Win/eel, 30. Brug, 30.
Hoog, 31. De JVarmoes, 34. Tun, 39. Prince, 31, 39.
Cingel, 3d. Buraei's Path, 35. Mire lane, 34: Sheep
pasture, 31. Public buildings — Citizens' guard house, 34.
Corps de garde, 28. 1 2. Secretary's otfice, 28. Post oliice,
28, 29, Cucking or ducking stool, 33. Wooden horse,
8, 13. Whipping post, 8. Gallows, 8. City fire engine,
8. Citv beiK 27, 2^. West India Company's garden and
farm, si. Armed and private vessels, 7, ?3, 24 Commons
or park, 9, 93. De Kolck, 9, 37. Bouwerj, 9. Corlear's
Hook, 9, 38.

32 7

BH

|Jo.v.-Mo.lt<,adri.) Ill lGl«i- (Rob'M.Cav

I

I CAUSED the prefixed View to be engraved for the
purpose of embelhshiiig a future volume of the history of
this state. In the progress of my researches I have been
so fortunate as to collect authentic and unpublished facts,*
which, though extremely curious and interesting, are too
local in their application to fall within the scope of the
general history. These I have prepared for my own
amusement, and may publish them in the shape of histori-
cal notes of the progress of the city, from the period when
the first trading and tishing huts were erected upon this
island to the date of the present view.

I have ventured to look a little into that *' dark age" of
our history, viz. the twenty years between the discovery by
Hudson, in 1609, and arrival of governor Wouler Van
Twiller in 1629, during which interval Christianse and
Eelkes officiated as supreme authority under the tirst "pri-
vileged trading company," and Peter Minuets as the first
director-general or governor, under the " privileged Wes
India company." I have traced the advancement of the
city during the nine years' administration of Van Twiller,
the nine years' administration of William Kieft, the seven-
teen years' administration of Peter Stuyvesant, the nine
years' administration of the English governors, Richard
Nicolls and Francis Lovelace, and the one year and five
months' administration of their Dutch successor, governor
Anthonio Colve. J. W. M.

* The principal portion of which I have gleaned from thirty manuscript
volumes, folio, of public records. I am, also indebted to judge Benson's
.Memoir for some information respecting the location of several street?.

A

CITY OF NEW-ORANGE, &c

The city, until its surrender by governor Stuyvesant to
the English in 1664, had been denominated New-Amster-
dam, and during the governments of Nirolls and Lovelace,
New-York. In August, 1673, while England was at war
with Holland, a fleet belonging to the latter,and commanded
by commodores Cornells Evertsen, junior, and Jacob
Benches, captains Anthonio Co!ve, Nicolaes Boes, and
Ab. Fierd. Van Z\ 11, recaptured New-York. Exercisingthe
power of a supreme military tribunal, they named the city
New-Orange, in compliment to the prince of Orange.
Pursuant to the treaty of peace that closed the war in 1674,
New-Orange, in the month of October, was re-delivered to
the English, who resumed the name by which the city has
been ever since distinguished.

It was at the remarkable era when the above inter-
mission of the English government occurred, that the pre-
sent view was taken. It originally appeared published at
Amsterdam in Holland, at the bottom of a map bearing
this title : " Totius J^eo-Belgii nova et accuratissima Tabula
apud Reinier and Joshua Ottens, Amstelodami, " The pro-
spect had this inscription, Nieuw Amsterdam onlang
Nituw Jorck genamt ende hernomen by de Mederland"
ers op den 24 .^'*^. 1673, and underneath since has
been added, emddijk aan de Engelst zveder afgestaan^ which

plainly appears to be an addition, as it is engraved over
the etchings of the clouds. It appears to me that this
map was published bv the Dutch immediately after the
surrender of N»;w- York to them in 1673, for the follovv-
\n<j reasons: — First, by the inscription upon the prospect
of the city, wherein it is said, Xezo Amsterdam, lately called
New-York, and retaken by the Dutch on the 2Ath Aug, 1673.
Now this appears to me to be a certain proof that it was
published durin;t^ the time the Dutch were in possession of
the place, or very shortly after, as the words finally quit-
claimed again to the English, are written over the former
•jravins:, as 1 observed before. Secondly, in the ornamental
tij^ures over the said prospect, the principal is a woman
crowned with a naval crown, resting upon a club, holding
in the left hand a wreath of laurel ; behind her stands Mer-
cury, and round her, Europeans and savages as returning their
thanks to her for their liberty ; oae of the Indians ollering
to her an Indian village which he holds in his hands, emhiem
of the oiler of their lands, (the Dutch in their paintings run
much in emblems and allegories,) and under the said figure
is written the word Restitutio, Thirdly, in the map, below
the south ^ide of Long Island, and near the entrance of the
bay of New-York, are little ships anchored, and over them
is written vloot van Corn Evertsen, which was the commo-
dore that commanded the tleet that retook New- York.
Fourthly and lastly, there is upon the street before the
harbour in the prospect, the representation of some compa-
nies of armed men, which, with the rest, seem to concur in
asserting the date of the publication of the map at the time
of the Dutch conquest."

In 1769, an exact copy of this etching was taken by Du
Simiticre,a French gentleman of taste, learning and research,
well remembered as an amateur, by some of the elder
citizens of New- York and Philadelphia, wherein he resided,

andin the latter city founded a museum and ended his
days. From his manuscript copy I drew the one from which
the present view has been engraved.* His remarks above
quoted appear conclusive that it was taken at the period
of the re-capture. The reference on the original etching
to the conquering fleet is particularly significant. The fleet
in July, 1G7.3, anchored otF '' Nayah," at the outlet of the
narrows, and near the very spot that the English conquer-
ing fleet under Nicolls,&c. had moored, nineyears previously.
The former approached the fort in August, and after the
surrender of the city, continued some time in the north
river. In fact the " fregatt Zee-hond" (Sea Dog,) com-
manded by capt. Evertsen, and the'Surrinam,' a 44 gun ship
under the immediatecontrol of Gov. Colve, did not return to
Holland with the rest of the fleet, but at the urgent request
of the Burgomasters, were left for the protection of the
city. It is also a fact on record, that the Heeren-Gracht, (see
view I) was filled up, and the street levelled and paved,
three years only after the date of the present view in which
i\ni gracht (canal) appears delineated.

The view, as copied from Da Simitiere's manuscripts, is
unaccompanied by explanations, except a few letters and
Dutch names. The design of the following notes is to sup-
ply this desideratum, and the design of another publication,
if I should think proper to make it, will be to present an
amusing view of the singularly slow progress and strange
peculiarities of the ancient city ; when, for instance, the le-
gislative, executive and judicial power was vested in the
governor and his council, under the supreme law of the
land, the will of the Dutch West India com.pany department
at Amsterdam ; when de Heer Officter^ or Hoofd-Sckoid, t
acted as the Fiscael or Procureur-general ; | when he or

* For fear of impairing the authenticity of the original, I bare copied it
as it was, notwithstanding the badness of its perspective,
t High Sheriff. t Attorney General.

8

the pro's OS t-mar shall, the gaoler, conducted offenders to
tiie gaol, the whipping- post, the wooden-horse, the gal-
lows, or to the transport ship, if the criminal had been
gailty of crimen lesa majestatis ; or of a libel merely
oei the good Burgomasters^ then only to a stake, with
a bridle in his mouth, rods under his arm, and an ap-
propriate label on his breast ; when the wets-meesters took
charge of fatherless children alid widows ;* when the Roy-
meesters viewed the city fences and regulated them ;
when the overseers of the city fire-engine inspected
all reed and straw roofs and wooden chimnejs ; when
the official duties of the court-messenger were to summon
parties to court, await the orders of the governor and
coancil, read in church on Sunday, sing with the school,
assist in burying the dead, and attend in tolling the bell ;
when '' the first commissary of marriage affairs'* determin-
ed all matrimonial controversies; when the city school-
master was, ex-officio, clerk, chorister and consoler of the
sick f when the miller could receive no grain unless ac-
companied by a certificate of its inspection by " the comp-
troller of the revenues of the company's wind mill;" when
the citizens were divided into great and small, agreeably to
the destinction of Groot BurgerrecJit and Klein Burgerrecht ^]
when merchants, traders and shop-keepers were obliged not
only to pay a duty for the privilege of becoming small
citizens (klein burgers.) but also to pay a recognition duty, a
doty to the public wharf, a duty to the overseer of the weigh-

» A wees-hiiys or orphan-house is mentioned — hnt it was probably the
house of the wees-meesters, for the city, according to the records of the
times, was too poor to undertake *' so grand an enterprise" as to erect a
house like that in Amsterdam

t Great citizenship and small citizenship.

scales, a duty to the i^uhMcpack huys^* and a duty to the eyck
meester^ for marking their weights and nneasures agreeably
to the true Amsterdam standard ; when the amusenients and
customs of the citizens consisted principally in dancing the
hipsey-saw, shuffle-shuffle, or a simple reel ; playing with
cards, nine-pins, balls and trick-track ; plucking the goose ;
firing guns, beating the drum, and planting May-trees on
New- Year's and May-Day; sometimes planting the May-pole,
surrounded with ragged stockings, before the door of the
bridegroom ; sailing to Nut Island,! Pavonia,§ or " Ereu-
kelen ;" promenading the pleasure grounds of the city,
fishing by day and night, rambhng to the commonsjl for nuts
and strawberries; walking and riding in partiesof pleasure to
the Ladies' Valley ,11 Bestevaars kreupelbosch^^] theKolck,1:|
the Bouwery, Corlear's Hook, Sapokanikan,§§ Bloemend'
Dal, Nieuw Harlaem, Spyt den Duyvel Kill, or Vreeden-
dal.** But these and similar pecuharities of the ancient
city, may hereafter become topics for the amusement of a
leisure hour. I may then also open to view, more fully
than f design to do by the following notes, the police eco-
nomy and condition of the city, and describe the novel
transactions that took place from the time the council of
war of the conquerors transferred its sessions from the fleet
to the fort, and until its re-delivery to the English. Assuming
the authority of a supreme military trbunal, the former first
remodelled the government over their conquest, in con-
formity to the ancient customs of the city and the exigency
of the epoch. Accordingly they re-established the order of

* Store-house,
i Weigh-master.

X Governors Island. § New-Jersey.
Ij Now the park of the city.

H See page 36. tt Grand-father's Underwood. U Sec page 3T.

§§ Greenwich.

*• In West-Chester, north of Harlaem.
2

10

schout, burgomasters and schepens ; but retained the office
of mayor, adding to it that of auditor of the military council,
and appointed Jacobus Van de Water. They commissioned
AnthonioColve,who had been a captain in the service of the
Republic, as Governor under the provisional sanction of
the States-general and the Prince of Orange. They appoin-
ed Cornells Steenwyck as his counsellor of state, and Nicho-
las Bayard as secretary of New Netherlands,* and as geheim
schryver^ or recorder of secrets ; ac vendii meester, or auc-
tioneer for the city, and as book-keeper and receiver-gene-
ral of the revenues. Relieved from the burthen of civil
affairs, except on important occasions of a joint conference
with the governor and council, or the burgomasters and
schepens, the military triounal was left at leisure to consult
measures for the perm.aneni; security of the city. Then a
code of sanguinary military law was deemed necessary ;
the strictest discipline enforced not only in garrison but
among the city militia r tho mayor, at the head of the lat-
ter, held his daily rarade3 before the City Hall ; each eve-
ning he received from, the principal guard, {hoofd wagt) of
the fort, t'je keys, and, accompanied by a Serjeant and six
armed soluierc, locked the c'ty gates, stationed for duty the
Burger- wagt \ and ni;5ht watches, opened the gates at day-
light, and in either case returned the keys to the commanding
officer at the fort. In this interval no person could go upon
the •' ramparts, builwarks, rondeels or batteries of the city,''
on pain of corporal punishment, but if any person '* with-
out any distinction,'' dared to enter or leave the city except
through the city gate, death was the penalty. At the fort
the soldiers were daily paraded and exercised, the guard

* Now state of New York.
tCitizen on guard.

11

mounted the ramparts upon duty, the sentinels were station-
ed at the gates, the reveille was played each morning at day-
break, the tap-toe beaten each evening at nine o'clock, in
unison with the city bell, and the daily discharges of musket-
ry and occasional roar of artillery, were heard in echoes at
Flatten Barrack, Golden and Potbakers' Hills, or in rever-
beration along the surrounding shores and forests.

Every day a corporal's guard was on duty from each com-
pany in garrison,* when the muskets were examined by the
Serjeants and corporals. The guard was on duty in the
afternoon at one o'clock, and on Sunday at twelve, during
which time the gates were shut. A lieutenant or ensign
alternately remained on guard in the fort, and reported to
the governor the transactions of the day. The gates were
opened at day-light, and locked in the evening before
it was dark. When the tap-toe was beaten, at nine o'clock,
all the soldiers and sailors were allowed to go to sleep —
" without making any noise.'' The corporals changed their
sentinels at night each half hour. The chief-round (hoofd-
rond) went before midnight and received the parole^ but
at least one adelborst\ previously made the round ; and
after the chief-round, the adelborsten, from time to time, went
the rounds. In like manner on Sundays, during the sermon^
they went the rounds in the forenoon and afternoon, and
visited the walls. Their duty was to see that the soldiers
kept their barracks and dwellings clean, and never to allow
any dirt or water to be thrown in the fort. The corporals
changed their sentinels in the day time as circumstances
required-T-their duty was to see that the muskets were
cleaned and well charged, to pay attention to all sorts of
ammunition, to examine the bandeliers, (cartridge-boxes,)
to be continually on the alert to take care that their men

* The major of the garrison, was ensign Jan Sol.
t A grade only above a commou soldier.

12

remained in or Dear the guard-house, to permit not more
than three or four to go at once to dine, to prevent the
introduction into the guard-house of any strong Hquor, to
instruct and continp.ally exercise the soldiers, inculcate
strict discipline, and tinally, principally to pay attention
" that neither Dutch nor Englishmen should enter the gates
of the fort without permission, the magistrates of the city
only excepted, much less that any person whatsoever
should walk on the batteries.'*'^

In consequence of the great disorders which had arisen
in the fort among the soldiers, a code of military law con-
taining nineteen articles was promulgated by the governor,
and the corporals were bound to read aloud these " orders"
every time they were on guard, " that no one might in future
presume to pretend his ignorance." By this code they
were liable to be punished for the first crime of blasphemy,
with confinement on bread and water three days ; for a
second offence, the offender's tongue " should be perfo-
rated with a hot iron," and he banished the province.
Death was decreed for mutiny, or for leaving his corps de
<rarde without permission from his corporal, or remaining
at ni^ht out the fort without permission of his captain, for
challenging to fight, for disobedience to the commands of
his superior, or to " the command communicated with the
beating of the drum ;" or if a soldier should " oppose him-
self to his officer or commander," or in general neglect his
duty when on guard or service, or if he should leave his
post, or the sentinel be found sleeping when on duty, " he
should lose his life without any mercy ;" for wounding
another so that blood followed he shouid lose his hand, or
if in any fight or strife he cried to his comrade to assist him,
he " should be hung and strangled." This punishment
should also be inflicted for going out or coming into the
fort except through the ordinary gate. Whoever became

13

intoxicated during guard was cashiered and banished the
company. He who did not appear on parade, should
have his guard located to another, be placed on the wooden
horse^ and still be compelled to go on guard.

The commissary distributed to each man per week 3^
lbs. beef, and 2 lbs. pork; or if beef only was distributed, the
ration (rantsoen) was 7 lbs. beef or 4 pork ; 7 lbs. bread ;
i lb. butter or the value of 2 st. Holland value. For 7
men per week ^ vat of small beer. For each man per
month li pints peas; and for every man ^ schepel salt
every three months. The Serjeant and gunners (constopels)
received the ration for 1^ man, the corporals for !^ man.

Before the date of the governor's commission, one of
the first acts of the military tribunal was to invite the citi-
zens to assemble and appoint a committee of six to confer
at the City Hall with the commanders and military council.
Accordingly, on the loth August, these six deputies held
the conference, and received a request to call a meeting of
the citizens to nominate a list of six persons for burgomas-
ters, and fifteen for schepens, ** of the best and most respect-
able citizens, of the reformed christian religion only."

The citizens (IGth August) nominated by a majority of
votes : For burgomasters, Cornelis Steenwyck, Conieiis
Van Ruyven; Johannis Van Brugh,t Marten Cregier. Jo-
hannis de Peyster,t and Nicholas Bayard. For schepent
Jeronimus Ebbingh,*| Willam Beeckman,| Egidius Luyck,
Jacob Kip,t Gelyn Verplanck,J Lourans Van de Spie£jel,t
Balthazaer Bayard, Francois Rombouts, Stephen Van
Cortlant, Adolph Pietersen, Reynier Willemsen, Peter

* Whose wife, then here, was Johanna de Laet, daughter of the deceased
Johannis de Laet, one of the first directors of the West India companv, and
author of the History of that company, viz : " Historic, &c. West-Indische
Companie: Tot Leyden, 1644;" and the History of the West Indies,
("Nieuw Wereld, 8jc.") Amsterdam, 1625,

14

Jacobsen, Jan Vigne, Pieter Stoutenburg, and Coenract
Ten Eyck.

Those marked t were appointed burgomasters, and Egi-
dius Luyck the third burgomaster. Those marked X were
elected schepens, and Anthony De Mill, sheriff, and took
an oath of allegiance " to the high and mighty lords the
States-general of the United Netherlands and his high-
ness the lord prince of Orange," to obey their magistrates,
who were or might be appointed, administer equal justice to
parlies, promote the welfare of the city, " defend and pro-
tect in every part the sincere and true Christian reli-
gion, in conformity to the Synod of Dordrecht, as instructed
in the churches of Netherland."

A proclamation was then issued, (August 18,) restoring
the form of the government of the city to its ancient char-
acter of sheriff, burgomasters, and schepens, as practised
" in all the cities of our Fatherland ;" and the officers now
commissioned and proclaimed were directed in addition to
the duties indicated by their oath, to govern the inhabitants,
citizens and strangers, " in conformity to the laws and
statutes of our Fatherland."

The same day a sequestration was ordered, by the mili-
tary council, of the property belonging to England, France,
or their subjects.

The commission for Governor bore date the 17th Sep-
tember. After he and his council were left in the full
exercise of supreme legislative, executive and judicial
authority, they issued the following instructions.

Instructions for Jacobus Van de Water, as Mayor and Auditor
of the city of Kew-Orange»
1 st. The mayor shall take good care that, in the morn-
ing, the gates arc opened with sun-rise, and locked again
in the evening at sun-set — for which purpose he shall go to

15

the principal guard, (the hoofd wagt,) and there address
himself to the commanding officer, and demand, to conduct
him thither, at least a seijeant with six soldiers (schutters,)
all armed with guns — with these he shall proceed to the
fort to fetch the keys, and return these again there, as soon
as the gates are opened or shut. There he shall receive the
watch-word (parol) from the governor, or from the officer
commanding in his absence ; when he shall again return to
the Citi/ Hall,, and deliver the received orders to the Serjeant
of the guard, to be further notified where it ought to be.

2. The mayor shall be present at all military tribunals,
and have his vote in his turn, next the youngest ensign.

3. The mayor may every night make the round, give
the watch-word to the corporal, visit the guards, and if
there are some absent, make the next day his report to the
governor.

3. As auditor, he shall act in the military council as
secretary, and take care that a correct register is kept of
all the transactions. This book Notules shall remain
under the care of the auditor — and deliver no copy of it,
except upon special orders.

Done at « Fort WILLEM HENDRICK."

12 /«n. 1674.

Frovisional instructions for the Sheriff, Burgomasters and
Schepens, of the city of New-Orange.

1. The sheriff and magistrates shall, each in their qua-
lity, take proper care, that the reformed Christian religion,
in conformity to the synod of Dordrecht, is maintained —
without permitting that any thing contrary to it shall be
attempted by any other sect.

2. The sheriff shall be present at all meetings, and then
preside, except that his honour the governor, or any other
person commissioned by him, was present, who in such

16

case shall preside, when the sheriff shall follow in order the
youngest burgomaster. But whenever the sheriff is acting
in behalf of justice, or in any other manner as plaintiff,
then in such case he shall, after having made his conclu-
sion, rise from his seat, and absent himself from the bench
during the decision.

3. All cases relative to the police, security, and peace
of the inhabitants — so too of justice between man and man,
shall be determined by definitive sentences by the schout,
burgomasters and schepens, to the amount of fifty beavers
and below it — but in all cases exceeding that sum, all per-
sons are free to appeal to the governor-general and council
here.

4. All criminal delicts, committed here within this city
and its jurisdiction, shall be judged by the aforesaid sheriff,
burgomasters and schepens, who shall have power to sen-
tence and judge even punishment of death — provided that
all judgments and corporal punishments shall not be exe-
cuted before these are approved by the governor-general
and his council, this approbation being demanded and
obtained.

5. The meetings shall be convocated by the president
burgomaster, which he shall communicate the day before to
captain Willem Knyff — who by this is provisionally au-
thorized and qualified to be present at the meetings, and
preside in them in the name and in the behalf of the go-
vernor, and so to the sheriff, burgomasters and schepens.

6. All proposals shall be made by the first burgomaster,
which proposal being made, then shall upon it, the first
advice be given by him who presides in the name of the
governor — and so of course by the remaining magistrates
each in his rank ; and after the collection of votes, it shall
by the majority be concluded. But if it happen that
the votes are equal, then the president may conclude with

17

his vote, in which case those of the contrary opinion, or the
minority, may have their opinion placed on the protocol;
but may not divulge it in public, under the penalty of
an arbitrary correction.

7. The burgomasters shaH change their rank each half
year, when the oldest shall be first president, and he who
follows him the next — but for this year the change shall be
every fourth month, because this year three burgomasters
have been appointed.

S» The sheriff, burgomasters and schepens shall hold
their sessions as often as it may be required, provided they
determine on fixed days.

9. The sheriff, burgomasters and schepens are autho-
rized to resolve for the benefit, tranquillity, and peace of the
inhabitants of their district, and publish and fix, with the
approbation of the governor, any statutes, ordinances and
placards : provided that they are not contrary, but, as far
as it may be possible, agreeing with the laws and statutes
of our Fatherland.

10. The said sheriff, burgomasters and schepens, shall
be obliged to a rigid observance of all the placards and
ordinances which are commanded and published by su-
preme authority, and see that these are executed, and not
to permit that any act to the contrary is performed, but
that the contraveners are prosecuted in conformity to its
contents ; and that, further, all such orders shall be
promptly executed, which shall be conveyed to them by
the governor-general from time to time.

11. The sheriff, burgomasters and schepens, shall be
further obliged to acknowledge their high and mighty lords
the States-general of the United Netherlands, and his
serene highness the lord prince of Orange, as their supreme
sovereign, and to maintain their high jurisdiction, rights
and domains in this country.

3

18

12. The election of all inferior officers and ministers
for the service of the aforesaid sheriff, burgomasters and
schepens — the secretary's office only excepted, shall be
elected and confirmed by themselves.

13. The sheriff shall carry into execution all the sen-
tences of burgomasters and schepens viithout releasing
any individual except with advice of the Court — and take
particularly good care that the resort subjected to him,
be thoroughly cleansed from all villainies, brothels and
similar impurities.

14. The sheriff shall enjoy all the fines during the time
of his service, provided that these shall not exceed the
sum of twelve hundred gilders sewants value, annually —
which sum having received, he shall of all the other fines
receive the just half, provided that he shall neither direct-
ly nor indirectly enter into a compromise with any delin-
quent, but leave this to the judicature of the magistrates.

15. The sheriff, burgomasters and schepens aforesaid,
shall on the 11th day of the month of August, being eight
days before the day of election of the new magistrates, call
a meeting, and in the presence of a committee chosen for
that purpose by the governor-general, nominate a double
number of the best qualified, honest and respectable inhabi-
tants, and only such as are of the reformed christian reli-
gion, or who are at least favourable to it, and well affec-
tionate, for sheriff, burgomasters and schepens aforesaid,
which nomination that same day shall be sealed and deliver-
ed, from which then the election shall be made on the 17th
of the month of August, with the continuation of some of
the old magistrates, if it was judged proper or necessary.

Done in Fort Willem Hendrick, 15 Jan. 1674,
By order of the governor general of Netherland.

(Was signed,) N. Bayard, Secretary,

19

In August, 1674, the re-election of city officers took
place, "agreeably to custom, and the specific instructions
of the governor." The old sheriif, burgomasters and
schepens, accordingly met at the City Hall, the place of their
sessions, and nominated a double list of " the most respec-
table and wealthiest inhabitants," viz :

For Burgomasters — * Willem Beeckman, Oloff Steven-
sen Cortland.

For Schepens — * Stephanus Van Cortland, * Ffrancois
Rombouts, Jan Vigne, Peter Jacobsen Marius, * Christo-
pher Hoogland, Gerret Van Tricht.

At the close of the preceding year, the expenses incur-
red in repairing the fortifications and providing for the pub-
lic defence, amounted to 11,000 gilders.

In the begining of the next year, (or in Feb. 1G74,) the
Burgomasters and Schepens of the city, notified the gover-
nor by a petition, that having become greatly indebted by
these " excessive expenses," and being daily vexed by some
of their creditors to make payment, they solicited that
some expedient might be invented from which these incur-
red expenses, with others yet to be made to finish the fortifi-
cations— might be liquidated. — Having taking it in serious
consideration, the governor deemed that, for the present
time, no remedy more prompt, more efficacious and equita-
ble could be applied or discovered, than that this money
should be obtained by a taxation of the wealthiest inhabi
tants, " so as often in similar occurrences had been put in
practice in our Fatherland,*' wherefore he deemed it ne-
cessary to command " that by a calculation, a tax be levied
on the property of this state without exception — from all
the inhabitants of this city New-Orange — those only except-
ed whose estates are calculated not to exceed the sum of one

These marked * were elected, and the others were J. Van Brug, old Bur.
gomastcr, Jacob Kip, presiding Schepen— and Gelyn Verplanck, Schepn.

20

thowsand gilders, " seewants value ;'' and that the aforesaid
tax might be levied in the most reasonable and less oppres-
sive manner, it vi^as resolved that it should be levied and
collected by six impartial men, viz: two in behalf of the
government, two from the magistrates, and two from the
community in this city ; and for this end the governor ap-
pointed and qualified in behalf of the supreme sovereign,
the member of council, Cornelis Steenwyck, with the
secretar)', N. Bayard : from the community, Cornelis Van
Ruyven and Oloif Stevenseu Van Cortlant, who, with the
committee of the magistrates to be appointed by them, were
authorized to execute the aforesaid taxation, and render to
him a written report.

The commissioners immediately entered upon the dis-
chan^e of their duty, assessed the estates and made their
report, from which, and from the corrections made after-
wards in their estimate, the following list will exhibit names
of the " most wealthy inhabitants," and consequently the
value of this city one hundred and fifty-two years ago.

Adolph Peterson, (I) estate valu-
ed at (a-ilders Holland v^lue,;
1000
Andria? Jochems, 300

Albert B'jsch, 500

Ahram V arraar, 300

Ali^-d Actiiony, (2) 1000

Abr..hRm Jausen, Carpenter, 600
AnihoDy Juns^n Van Sale, 1000
Adrian Viiiociit, 1000

Abvl Harder broeck, 1000

Abi.bam Verplanck, 300

Assei- Lecvy, 2600

Abrarn Lubbersen, 300

Anthony De, 1000

Anna Van Borssum, 2000

Barent Coersen, 3500

Balthasar Bayard, (Sj 1 500

Boele Roelofsen, 600

Barnadus Hasfalt, 300

Bay Croe Svelt, 1000

Baithasar de Haerts House, 2000
Claes Lock, 600

Carsten Leursen, 5000

Cornelis Steenwycb, (4) 50,000
Cornelis Van Puyven (5) 18000
Cornelis Janse van Hooren, 500
Claes Bordingth, ir.UO

Coenraet Ten Eyck, (6) 5000
Christopher Hoogland, (7) 5000

(1) ^;ec pages 13, 14. (2) Notary Public. (3) See pag-s 13, 14.
(4) Captain of infantry, counsellor of state, &c. &c- see pages 13, 14.

(5)

13, 14.

(6) Ilc resided at (Toenties slip, and he and his wife Jane gave name
to thih sJip, which origioilly was " Coen & Antyes" slip. His tannery
was on mire lane, iee page. (7) Schepen; page 19'

21

Cornells Chopper,

Corel Van Brugg^es'shouses, 1000

Cornells Van Borssum,

David Wessels,

Comeiis Direksen, from
westveen,

Cornells Barentse Vander
Cuyll,

Dirck Smet,

David Jochems,

Daniel Hendricks,

Dirck Van Cleef,

Dirck VViggerse,

Dlr ;k Sieken,

Dirck Claesse, Potter,

Aeg-idius Luyk, (8)

Egbert Wouterse,

Evert Pieterse,

Evert Wesselse Kuyper,

Evert Duyckingh,

Ephraim Harmans, (9)

Elisabeth Drlseus,

Elisabeth Bedloo,

Ffrancois Rombouts? (10)

Ffredrick Phihpse,

Ffredrick Arentse, turner,

Ffredrick Gisberts,

Guillane Verplanck, (11)

Guiliam de Honioud,

Gapriel Minville, (11)

Gerret Gullevever,

Mary Loockermans,

Harmanus Burger, & Co.

Hendrick Kip, sen.

Hendrick Bosch,

Hendrick Wessels Smit

Hendrick Gillesse, Shoem-
aker,

5000

Hendrick Willemse Backer 2000

,1000

Hermanus Van Borsum.

600

8000

Hans Kierstede,

200O

800

Hendrick Van Dyke,

300

Hartman Wessels,

300

1200

Harmen Smecmar,

300

Henry Bresier,

300

400

Johnannes Van Brugh, (12)

2000

1400

1000

Johnnis de Peyster, (13)

15000

500

Jeronlmus Ebblngh, (14)

30000

1500

Jacob Kip, (15)

4000

800

Isaacq Van Vlecq,

1500

2000

Jan Mleynder se Karman,

300

700

Isack de Foreest,

1500

5000

Junan Blanck,

1600

400

Jacob de Naers,

5000

2000

Jan Hendrick Van Bommel,

300

1500,

1600

Jacob Leumen,

300

1000

Jeremias Jansen Hag-enaer, 400

2000

Jacobus Vande Water, (16)

1000

2500

5000

Jan Dirckse Meyer,

600

80000

Isacq Van Tricht, in his bro-

400

thers house,

2000

400

Jacob Abrahamse, Shoema-

5000

ker,

2500

400

Jan Van Bree Steede,

500

10000

Jonas Bartels,

3000

500

Jan Herberdingh,

2000

2000

Jacob Teuniss Key,

8000

400

Jan Spiegelaer,

500

300

Jan Jansen, Carpenter,

300

400

John Lawrence, (17)

400CO

1200

James Matheus,

1000

Jan Reay, Pipe-maker,

30<>

300

Jan Coely Smet,

1200

Jan Schakerley,

1400

(8) See pages 13, 14. He was rector of the latin school.

(9) Secretary to the sessions of the Schout Burgomaster and Schepens

(10) Seepages 13, 14. Schepen page 19.

(11) Schepen, see pages 19, 13,' 14. He and Gabriel Minveille
and Oloft Stevenson Van Cortlandt, were commissioners to liquidate
the demands against the estate of the ci-devant Governor Loveictce.

(12) pages 13 14, 19. Burgomaster. (13) do. (14) Schepen see pages

(15) Presiding Schepen, pages 13, 14, 19.

( 1 6) May or and " Auditeur," (17) iVIerchant.

CiGy

Jan Joosten, Barquicr, 2500
Jacob Levslaer, (18) 15000

JanViffne, (19) 1000

Jacob Varrevanger, 8000

Laurens Jan sen Smet, 300

Luycas Andries, Barquicr, 1500
Laurens Van de Spiegel, 6000
Lanimert Huybertse IVIoll, 300
Laurens Hoist, 300

Luvckes Tienlioven, 600

Marten Kregier, sen. (20) 2000
Marten Jan sen IMeyer, 500

Matheys do I faert, 12000

JSicholas de Meyer, 60000

Nicholas Bayard, ^21; 1000

Nicholas du'Fuy, 600

Nicolas Jaasen Backer, 700

Olof Stevensen Van Cortland,

(22; 45000

Peter Jacobs Marius, 5000

Peter Nys, 500

Paulus Bichard, 5000

Peter de Riemcr, 800

Paulus Turcq, 300

Pieter Van de Water, 400

Picter Jansen Mesier, 300

Philip Johns, 600
Reynier Willemse, (23)

Backer, 5000
Stephanus Van Cortland,

C24; 5000

Simon Jjintz Romeyn, 1200

Sibout Claess, 500

S'ouwert Olp heresse, 600

Thomas Leurs, 6000
Thomas Louwerss, Backer,

1000

Wilhelm Beeckman, (25; 3000

Wander Wessels, 600
Willem Van der Schueven, 300

This taxation was made by the committee to their best
knowledge of the capital which the inhabitants possessed.

From this list it appears that 134 estates were taxed, that the
aggregate amount was about £95,000, a sum much less than that
which many of the descendants of those " wealthy inhabhants"
would at the present day be willing to acknowledge as the fair va-
luation of their individual property.

Previously to an explanation of the references denoted by
letters and figures in the View, I will notice the currency and
measures which are referred to in these notes, viz: seawant,
beavers, gilders and stivers; a last and a schepel. Cash
was so scarce in the ancient city, that even the ministers
of the Gospel, and the West India company's officers and ser-
vants, were paid in seawant or beavers. In 16G0, ministers

(18) After the revolution in England in 1688, he seized the fort, as-
sumed the government, over the province of New-York, was tried
and condemed for pretended treason, and executed near the present
gaol of the city. (19) Pages 13, 14, 19. (20) Pages 13, 14, 19.

(21 ) Held a monoply of officers, see page. (22) Burgomester, page 19.

(23) See page 22b. (24) Schepen, page 31*

(25) Burgomaster, page 19 see page 13, 14.

23

were to be paid ia beavers, at £1 3 4 a piece, •«5Uiid* as these
Holland at £l 10. In 1663, the officers and servants were
paid in beavers at £1 0 0. Seawant, or seawan, was the name
of Indian money- It was called also wampum (wampum peague
or peague.) It consisted of beads formed of the shells of the
quahaug^ a shell fish formerly abounding on our coasts, but
ately of less general occurrence. It was of two colours, the
black being held of twice the value of the white. Indeed, this
last was formed of another shell fish, called metau hock or peri-
winkle, and was more strictly the wampum, while the black was
called suckau hock. Their current value, was six beads of the
white, or three of the black, for an English penny. Seawant
was also taken from the common oyster shelly then bored and
strung.

The first accounts of the English dealing in this currency, are
in 1627. In 1641, an ordinance in council in this city, passed
by governor Kieft, recited that a vast deal of bad seawant,
** nasty rough things imported from other places," was in
circulation, while the " good splendid seawant, usually called
Manhattan's seawant, was out of sight, or exported, which must
cause the ruin of the country !" Therefore all coarse seawant,
well stringed, should pass at six for one stuyver only, but the
well polished at four for a stuyver, and whoever offered or
received the same at a different price, should forfeit the same
and ten gilders to the poor.

In 1657, this currency was reduced foom six to eight for a
stuyver. A stuyver was two pence, and a gilder 3s. 4d.

Among the measures, were a last, which contained 108 sche-
pels, or 81| bushels, and a schepel, | of a bushel.

VIEW. — A. The vessels lying on the North river side of the
Capsey, (Jig. 1 ) were Fort Orangiensche oft Albanishe Jachten :
Fort Orange or Albany sloops. In the East river, the " Surrinam,"
44 gun ship, is designed to be represented, besides some smaller
Tessels, as the " Snaeuw, and the City Leghter.^' The Surrinam,
under immediate command of Governor Colve, and the "Zee
Hond" (Sea-dog,) commanded by Commodore Evertsen, were

fvlcL

24

allowed by the "noble commanders of the military tribunal" to
remain during the year, and until further provision should be
made for the protection of the city. They were here the next
year, for in March, l674, it was adjudged that as the vessels in
the harbor {fig. 3) near the weigh-scales (see H) might, on the
arrival of an enemy, lay too much in the way, and hinder the
defence, they should be secured ; and therefore all the " skip-
pers, barquiers and boatsmen in the city," were commanded
to lay their vessels at anchor in deep water before the city, and
on the arrival of more than one ship to secure them in the rear
of the ship Surrinam, near the Rondeel, (see R. 1.) before the
residence of the widow Loockerman's, under the penalty that all
those vessels laying in the harbor at such a time, should be burnt
without discrimination.

Some of the public and private vessels that entered and de-
parted this port during the Dutch dynasty, were — in the time of
Van Twiller, the yacht, the Hoop, conquered by him in 1632,
the ship Soutberg, or Salt Mountain, in which he returned from
Holland in l633, the yachten, or sloops Prince William, Am-
sterdam, Wesel, and Peace. The most conspicuous vessels in
the period of Keift's government, were the ship Harring, in
which he arrived, March 28, 1638, and the " Angel Gabriel/^
which he freighted.

During the protracted government of Stuyvesant, who began
his administration on his arrival with three ships, May 11, 1647,
and ended it on the surrender, September 6, l664, the public ships,
and private commercial vessels, became comparatively nume-
rous. The harbor was now visited by " the arms of Amsterdam,"
the " Arms of Renselaerwyck," the " Arms of Stuyvesant," the
"King David," the "Gideon," the "Gilded Eagle," "Queen
Esther," the "Rose Tree," "St. Jacob," "King Solomon," the
"' Fox," the " Pear Tree," " Do Trow," " Oak Tree," the " Great
Christopher," tlie " Gilded Otter," " Crowned Sea Bears," and
the " Spotted Cow."

Fig. 1. The Capsey or dividing point between the North and

* See View.

26

East rivers. This jDoint terminated at a very short distance south
of State street, which was formerly called Capsey street, and was
the ancient boundary of the shore. The front row of buildings
from fig. 1 to S, were upon this street, and extended to White
Hall street. The next row near the fort, formed Pearl street,
which then extended only to White Hall street. Between Pearl
street and the fort, stood the large wooden-horse ten or twelve
feet high, with an edged back, on which the culprit was seated-
and his legs fastened with a chain to an iron stirrup, and sometimes
a weight was fastened to the foot. The horse is invisible on the
present prospect, as well as the tavern distinguished as " the sign
of the Wooden Horse."

B. Vlagg-Spil daer de vlag wordt opgehaelt ah er comen
Scheepen in dese Haven, the flag-staff whereon the flag was hoist-
ed upon the arrival of vessels into the harbor.

C. I^ort Amsterdam, genaamt James-Fort hy de EngelscJa
Fort Amsterdam, otherwise called James-Fort by the English.
The name officially giv^en to the fort in 1 673, was "fort Willem
Hendrick." It was first erected and finished in l635, by Gov*
Van Twiller, neglected by Governor Kieft, repaired and sur-
rounded by a stone wall by Governor Stuyvesant, and demolish-
ed, and the ground levelled m 1790 and '91. It was situated di-
rectly south of the Bowling green, on high ground, was in shape
of a regular square, with four bastions, had two gates, and
mounted forty-two cannon.

D. Gevangen Huys. The prison-house or gaol. It was of
stone and built by Governor Kieft.

E. Gereformeerde Kerck. The reformed Dutch Church
was erected within the fort, by Governor Kieft, in 1642. It
was of stone, and covered with oak shingles, which exposed to
the weather, soon resembled slate. The motives that induced
Governor Kieft to become the founder of the first church in this
city, may be best related in the words of captain David Pietersz
de Vriez " artillery meester van 't noorder Quartier," who per-
formed three voyages to New Netherlands, associated with Kil-
liaen Van Rensalaer and others, in 1630 to colonize this region
attempted a colony at the Hore-Kill on the Delaware, in the time?

4

26

of Van Twiller, and another on " Staaten Eylandt," which he
sustained till the troubles with the Indians in the latter time of
Kieft, drove him to abandon the country. De Vriez observes :
"As I was every day with Commander Kieft, dining generally
at his house when I happened to be at the fort, he told me one
day that he had now made a fine tavern* huilt with stone, for the
English, by whom, as they passed continually with their vessels
from New England to Virginia, he had suffered much, and who
now might take lodgings there. I told him this was very good
for travellers, but that we wanted very badly for our people a
church. It was a shame that when the English passed, they
should see nothing but a mean ham, in which we performed our
worship ; on the contrary, the first thing that they in New
England did, when they had built fine dwellings, was to erect a
fine church :t we ought to do the same, it being supposed that
the West India Company were very zealous in protecting the
reformed church (Calvinist) against the Spanish tyranny,
that we had good materials for it, fine oak wood, fine building
stone, good lime made of oyster shells, being better than our
lime in Holland. Kieft asked me then who would like to attend
to this building? I replied the lovers of the reformed religion,
as certainly some of them could be found. He told me that he
supposed I myself was one of them, as I made the propositions
and he supposed I would contribute a hundred guilders ! I re-
plied that I agreed to do so, and that as he was Governor, he
should be the first. We then elected Jochem Pietersz Kuyter,
who having a set of good hands, would soon procure good tim-
ber, he being also a devout Calvinist. We elected also Jan
Claesz Damen, because he lived near the fort, and thus we four

* This was the " Stadt-herherg,'''' or City Tavern, afterwards the
** Stadt huys,'''' or City Hall, of which see K on the view, and page 31-3.

t De Vriez related the truth, for according to" New England's First
Fruits," printed in London, 1643, (page 21,) there were in New
England in 1 642, 50 towns and villages, 30 or 40 churches, and a college
founded by Mr. Harvard, " a Godly gentleman, and a lover of learning,
then livings"

27

" Kerk meesters" formed the first consistory to superintend the
building of the church. 1 he Governor should furnish a few
thousand guilders of the company's money, and would try to
raise the remainder by subscription. The church should be
built in the fort, where it would be free from hn depredations of
the Indians. The building was soon started of stone, and was
covered by English carpenters with slate, split of oakwood,"
(that is, with oak shingles which, by rain and wind soon became
blue, and resembled slate.)

The contract for the erection of this church is upon record.
It was made in May, 1642, before the secretary of the New-
Netherlands, between " William Kieft, church-warden, at the
request of his brethren, the church-wardens of the church in
New-Netherland, and John Ogden of Stanford, and Richard
Ogden, who contracted to build the church of rock-stone, 72
feet long, 62 broad, and 16 feet high above the soil, for 2500
gilders (£416 13 4) " in beaver, cash or merchandize, to wit,
if the church-wardens are satisfied with the work, so that, in
their judgment, the 2500 gilders shall have been earned — then
said church-wardens will reward them with one hundred gilders
(£16 13 4) more," in the mean time assist them whenever it is
in their power, and allow them the use, for a month or six
weeks, of the Company's boat, to facilitate the carrying of the
stone thither.

The church was not completely finished until the first year of
governor Stuyvesant's administration. In July, 1647, he and
two others were appointed kerk meesters, (church-wardens,)
to superintend the work, and complete it the ensuing winter.

The town bell was removed to this church. Besides
the ofiice of calling the devout to meeting, and announc-
ing the hour of retirement at night, the bell was appro-
priated for various singular uses. In October, 1638, a female,
for slandering the Rev. E. Bogardus, was condemned to appear at
fort Amsterdam, and before the governor and council, ** to de-
clare in public, at the sounding of the bell, that she knew the
minister was an honest and pious man, and that she lied falsely."

28

In 1639, all mechanics and labourers in the service of the
Com pun}' commenced and left work at the ringing of the bell,
and for every neglect forfeited double the amount of their
wages, to the use of the attorney-general.

In 1647, all tavern keepers were prohibited, by the placards
of ''overnor Stuyvesant and council, from accommodating any
clubs, or selling any ardent liquor, after the ringing of the bell,
at nine o'clock in the evening.

In 1648, two runaways were summoned into court by the
ringing of the bell^ to defend themselves. And in 1677, an
ordinance was passed by the common council of New-York,
imposing a fine of six shillings on any members of the corpora-
tion and jurymen, who should neglect to appear in court at the
third ringing of the bell. The bell-ringer was anciently the
court messenger. In 1 66 1 , amid his multif irious otficial duties,*"
he was to " assistin burying the dead and attend to toll the bell.'^*
Between the church and gaol, was the corps de garde,
F. Governeur's Huys: Governor's house. The *' big house"
was built by Van Tvviller, partly of logs and brick, but a much
superior one of stone erected by Kieft, 100 feet long, 50 wide,
and 24 high, with two outside walks the length of the house, the
one nine, and the other ten feet broad; entry oO feet long, and
20 broad, with a partition and double chimney, with cellars,
windows, doors, he.

The secretary's office was at the north gate, at the north-east
bastion of the fort. It was built in behalf of Cornelis Tienhoven,
who was secretary of New-Netherlands under Van Twiller and
Ki^ft. From this office the first post-rider started, in the com-
mencement of this year, (1673) to go once a month " to Boston
and Hartford, Connecticut, and other places along the road."

The proclamation of governor Lovelace, issued December
10, 1672, is a document too curious to be omitted. It was in
the following words : —

*' Whereas it is thought convenient and necessary, in obedi-

* See p. 8.

29

ence to his Sacred Majesty's Commands, who enjoynes all his
subjects, in their distinct colon} es, to enter into a strict Ailyance
and Correspondency with each other, as likewise for the
advancement of Negotiation, Trade and Civill Commerce, and
for a more speedy Intelligence and Dispatch of affayres, that a
messenger or Post bee authorised to sett forth from this City of
New-Yorke, monthly, and thence to travaile to Boston, from
whence within that month hee shall returns agame to this City:
These are therefore to give notice to all persons concerned,
That on the first day of January next (167")) the messenger
appointed shall proceed on his Journey to Boston: If any there-
fore have any letters or small portable goods to bee conveyed
to Hartford, Connecticott, Boston, or any other parts in the
Road, they shall bee carefully delivered according to the Direc-
tions by a sworne Messenger and Post, who is purposely
imployed in that Aifayre; In the Interim those that bee dispos'd
to send Letters, lett them bring them to the Secretary's rfficct
where in alockt Box they shall bee preserv'd till the Messenger
calls for them. All persons paying the Post before the Bagg bee
seald up. Dated at New Yorke this 10th day of December
1672."

The buildings within the fort were burned during the famous
negro plot, in 1741.

S. Stuyvesant Huys. Governor Stuyvesant's house or dwell-
ing was built about four years before he surrendered his govern-
ment to the English. It fronted the public wharf (2,) and
stood on the west side of the present White-hall-street, nearly
opposite the commencement of the present Water-street.

Fig. 2. S. The public wharf (2) and harbour or dock,
(3) were built by the burgomasters of the city about the
year 1638, Here vessels loaded and unloaded, and a wharfage
duty was exacted at first of eight stivers per last. The harbour
(3) was constructed to accommodate vessels and yachts, in
which, during winter, the barques stationed there might be
secured against the floating ice; for which large vessels paid
annually " one beaver, and smaller in proportion, to the city,

30

to keep it in order." This wharf and harbour are now a part
of Whitelinll-street, Whitehall-slip having since been formed
into the river.

H. De Waegh. The weigh, or balance. This was erected
in 165.3, by governor Stuyvesant, and the standard weight and
measure kept in the balance-house, was according to those of the
city of Amsterdam. To this standard merchants were obliged
to conform, and to pay {he eyck-mcester i'or marking their weights
and measures. Goods were here also brought in bulk and
weighed, before they were stored in the public store-houses (G.)

G. '" T Magazijii. The r:5agazines or public store-houses, or
Pack'huysen of the Dutch Wesi-India Company, the " lords
patroons" of this city, were situated in TVinckel-straet, (Store-
street) now Stone-strcct, which then extended from the now
Whitehall-street to Broad-street.

Between Winckel-straet, and the docic(3) and the wall along
the harbour, and in the direction across the bridge(6) at the
foot of Heeren-gracht (See I.) was the Brug-straet (now
Bridge-street,) and betw^een this and the dock or wall was that
portion of the present continuation of Pearl-street, which was
after this view called Dock-street, on the border of which, be-
tween de waegh and bridge a small market-house(.5) was erected
in l656, and a market established every Saturday on the shore,
because farmers as the order in councel recited, " now and then"
had brought various articles, " as beef, pork, butter, cheese, tur-
nips, carrots, cabbages and other products of the country ; and
on coming to the shore often waited a great while to their loss,
because the commonalty, or at least the majority, who resided
at some distance from tlie shore remained ignorant that such
articles were ofTered for sale."

In rear of Winckle-street, and between that and Bcever-graclit
now Beaver-street was an open space called markt-vclt^ where
a market had been held, and an annual fair or cattle-show
exhibited, before the market-house on the shore was erected.
It embraced the plain before the fort, and a lane reaching from
Market-field(4) to Broad-street, and called Marktvelt-steegje,

31

Market-field-lane, is now Market-field-street, or Petticoat-lane
as it was more generally called within the last half century.

The most westerly buildings in this view bordered on the
east side of Breede-ivcg or the Broadway, which on the west
side was carefully left open for the range of the cannon of the
fort. Along the west side from the fort, as far as the present
Trinity Church, was the West-India Company's garden, and
thence beyond the city walls was the Company's farm, after-
wards called the Kmgs' farm, and extending to the present
Duane-street.

I. Heercn-gracht. Gentlenien's-canal, now (Broad-street.)
It was called the Moat in the time of Governor Kieft, and the
Great DyTce at the close of the English Governor Lovelace's
administration, (1672) when it was ordered to be cleaned, and
when also the streets of the city were paved. The Dutch called
it Breede-gracht as well as Heeren-gracht. Three years after
this view, (viz. 1676) the gracht (canal) was ordered to be filled
up, and the street levelled and paved. Beever-gracht entered
tlie Heeren-gracht from the west, and Prince^ s-gracht or Prince-
straet, (now a continued part of Beaver-street) extended eastward,
and terminated in a Sloof or ditch, whence has been derived the
Dame of Sloat-lane.

In the vicinity of the Heeren-gracht, was the Schapen-wey or
the sheep pasture, sometimes called the sheep valley.

From the Heeren-gracht to the Stadt-huys(Yi) inclusive, was
Hoog-straet, High-street, that is from a point a little north-west
of the corner of the present Pearl and Broad streets to the south
corner of the lane leading from Counties-slip into the present
Stone-street.

K. Stadt'htySy State House or City-Hall denominated also
Stadt-Jterberg, or City Tavern, was situated opposite the first half
moon (R. 1) at the corner of Hoog-straet, (which afterwards was
called little Dock-street , and now Pearl-street,) and the lane
running from Counties-slip westward into the street which is now
a continuation of Stone-street.

The stadt-herberg was built by governor Kieft, and finished in

32

1612, for the purpose, in part, of relieving himself from the bur-
den of hosipitiility which he had been taxed with, while his
New-England neighbours tarried at the '* Manhadoes" on their
voyages to Vir^jinia.* It was built at the expense of the
West, India company, and called the company's tavern. It
was afterwards, upon application of the burgomasters, grant'
ed to the city for the purposes of a stadt-huys or city house,
as well as the *' great" or " public tavern." This ce-
lebrated building, in which the most memorable affairs of
the colony were discussed, and sometimes transacted ; in
which the schout burgomasters and schepens held their ses-
sions and courts; in which the transfer from one power to
another of the sovereignty over the city and colony was three
times agitated and acceded to; in which the first public school
ever patronised, was held, in 1652, and probably afterwards, as
no school house was erected at the date of this view; in which
the five commissioners of the first court of admiralty, organized
in 1665 by Gov. Nicholls, convened and held their sessions; in
which, during the civil war between the houses of Bayard and
Leisler, our colonial York and Lancaster, one party held pos-
session, and returned the fire of the other from the fort ; in
which the gaol of the city was kept for a long time, but in all
probability, after the destruction of that in the fort during the
memorable negro-plot : — this famous edifice is supposed by
some to be yet standing on the spot of the original location, op-
posite Coenties-slip, and though divided into two departments
or buildings, is the same that was owned or occupied about
fifty-five years ago by Brinkerhoof and Van Wyck ; in J806by
Abraham Brinckerhoof, and now (1826) by his heirs.

The original building, however, was of stone, and the present
of brick. The stone building was standing fifty-two years after
its erection; but when the present buildings were substituted, I
have not any authority for determining. It is not improbable,
that the latter were used as the court house or city hall, long
before the one at the head of Broad-street was afterward*

* See ]). 26.

33

erected. This also has shared the fate of the former — and the
splendid city hall of the modern city now rears its dome where the
chesnut spread its branches at the period of the present v\«iw.*

The first stadt-hvys was a three story house, surrounded with
a schroeinge.-f

In front of the City-Hall, Jacobus Van de Water, the mayor,
with the guard of the citizens, is represented as upon the evening
parade. In 1673 at the beat of the drum, half an hour before
sun-set the militia (scuttery) of the city then on guard held
their parade before the City-Hall. The mayor then proceeded
to the city-gate(O) and locked it at sun-set, and at sun-rise he
opened it.

In front of the City-Hall were also the stocks and whipping-
post. The ducking-stool, or rather cucking-stool, was not yet
erected, notwithstanding the Lutheran minister in 1673 pleaded
in bar to a public prosecution against him for striking a female
that she " provoked him to it b?/ scolding J^ The Dutch had the
credit of introducing the wooden-horse, but the cucking-stool
was reserved for the superior ingenuity of the English, who de-
riving a sanction for their want of gallantry from the immemorial
authority of their Common Law, ordered in February, 1692,
" at a meeting of a grand Committee of the Common Council, a
pillory, cage and ducking-stool to be forthwith built."

R. 1. Rondeel, redoubt or half moon| was also in front of the
City-Hall, and is now a part of Counties-slip.

In the rear of the City-Hall was (S»/?/Z;-iS»;feeo-, Mire-lane, and a
tannery extended from the north corner of the lane, passing from
Coenties-slip to Mire-lane, on which a bark mill stood. Hence
the present Mill-street. In rear of this was elevated ground, and
near it was de Warmocs-straety (Street of Vegetables,) probably

* Governor Lovelace, in 1672, issued a proclamation prohibiting tanners
from barking the trees on the commons ; and the boys from felling them
as they had done " for their idle ffancyes or the nutts sake."

t Moat, ditch, or canal, lined with planks to preve^it the earth from
tumbling.

X Literally a "round bulwark."

5

51

tlie present Garden-street, near which were the Citizens' Guard-
House and the Lutheran Church,(L) or Liithersche Kerch. The
Lutherans, Jews, and Quakers found very little toleration from
the Dutch.'*' The English governors were more indulgent. In
1671 5 Governor Lovelace authorized the Luthern Congregation
to erect a church and to " seek benevolences from their bre-
theren here and on the Delaware." The next year, Edmundson,
a friend from England, was allowed to preach to the society of
his order. He held at an inn the first friends' meeting in the
city, and the magistrates attended.t From the City-Hall. following
the curveture of the shore to Smet-straet, (Fig. 7.) that is from
Coenties-slip to Hanover-square, was the Cm^e/, Encircling, or
Exterior-street, Thence from Rondeel or Half-Moon, (R. 2.)

* One of the ancestors of theBownes of this city, a member of the Society
of Friends, was banished on account of his religion. Governor Stuyvesaut
was censured by the West-India Company, and apologized to Bowne after
his return from Holland. But this early period was remarkable for gloomy
superstition and bigoted intolerance. The frenzy prevailing in New-Eng-
land extended its influence to this city. Here, within eight years before the
date of this view, a man and his wife were tried as witches, and a special
verdict of guilty brought in by the jury against one of them. Here, one
year before this view, the inhabitants of Westchester complained to the go-
vernor and council against a witch who had come among them ; she hav-
ing previously been condemned as a witch and imprisoned at Hartford.
During the year of this view a similar complaint was made, but Gov. Colve
treated it as idle and groundless. A fanatic, however, who this year came
into the city without consent, and pretending to be divinely inspired, made
"a terrible hue and cry in the streets," cryingon the bridge and before the
houses of the Hon. Stynwyck, and John Lawrence, '' Woe, woe to the
crowne of pride and the drunkaerts of Ephreim: Twoo woes past and
the third comming, except you repent — Repent, repent — as the kingdom of
God is at hand — " who, as stated in the record of his subsequent conviction,
also entered the church, made a great noise, abused with levity the woi'd of
God, and afterwards went through the Dutch villages on Long Island, to
New England, and returned to his residence at Oysterbay, having every
where cried the same words ; was protested against before the notary pub-
lic in this city, prosecuted by the attorney general, and condemned to be
severely flogged and banished forever.

t The same year George Fox also visited the friends on Long-Island, but
it does not appear that he came to the city.

35

which is now a part of Old-slip, towards the Water-poort (M)
was the Burgers' (or Citizens') path, between the row of build-
ing (Fig. 9.) and the wall along the shore.

These buildings were situated on the ground, now the western
side of Pearl-street aloHg Hanover-square towards Wall-street.
At the southern end of the row near the Cingel commenced
Smeer-straet (Greese-street) or Smet'straety* afterwards called
Smith-street, and now the lower end of William-street. Smith-
street lane, (Fig. 8.) so called also by the English in 1677, was
probably the present Sloat-lane»

(R. 3.) This Rondeel or half-moon, is now a part of Coffee-
House-slip, aad perhaps the spot on which the Coffee-House has
been reared.

These three fortified Ronduyten (R) were built of stone, and
partly constituted the defence of the East-river side of the city.

(T) The East-river running between the Island Manhattan
and Yorkshire, or Long Island. {Oost-Rivier lopende tusschen
'/ Eylandt Manhattans en Jorkshire ofte H Lange Eylandt.)

The Block-house at the Water-gate (M) was at the north-east
corner of the present Pearl-street and Wall-street, where Messrs.
Hones' auction store is now situated.

The wall connecting the Ronduyten was of stone, and was de-
signed to keep out the inundation of the tide and sea. The City
Wall was of earth, thrown up from a moat dug in 1653 from the
East to the North river, at first four or five feet deep and ten or
eleven broad, somewhat sloping at the bottom. On the top of
this wall was a closely connected line of palisadoes extending
a like distance from the Water-gate along the north side of the
present Wall-street (Fig. 10.) to the North-river. Hence was
derived the name of the present Wall-street, which coursed along
the southern base of the moat, wall, and line of pallisadoes.

(M) Water-poort. The Water-port or Gate, sometimes call-
ed the East-river Gate, was connected with the Block-house at
the east end of the wall.

(0)La?id-poort, The Land-port or City-gate, was in the Broad-

* Smet, a taint, blot or stain. Smidt, a Smith.

36

nay, tlience the wall and palisadoes extended to a fortification
in the rear of the present Trinity Church, which was not huilt
till eighteen years after the date of this view. This hreast-
work or battery may have been the same stone wall, four or
live feet thick, which in 17->1 was discovered back of tlie
English Church nearly eight feet under ground.

The fortifications of the city at the time of the present view
were denominated the fort, walls, bulwarks, Rondeels, curtains
{gerdijnoi) and batteries.

(Fig. 11.) The Lady's Valley, a fashionable resort in the
days of Governor Kieft, was probably the same place which was
denominated in the period of his successor, Alaagde-pacfjcj (the
Virgins'-path,) now (1825) INIaiden-lane. It was called the
Green-lane 1G9-? when tlie Common Council ordered the land
on the water side, in front of Smitli's Yly, (N) from the Block-
house to the hill of Mr. Bcekman (Beekman-street) to be sold,
and that portion from the Block-house to'Green-lane, at 20s'. per
foot. The Virgins' path proceeded from this Vly in the direc-
tion of Maiden-lane to the elevated ground.

N. Smidfs Valcy, abbreviated to Smet or Smce^s Vly,
Was a marsh extending from the rising ground, a little north
of the city walls, along the East river, or shore of the pre-
sent Pearl-street, to the rising ground near Fulton-street. —
This valley, or salt marsh, was bounded westward by the high
ground along the rear of the lots on the north western side of
Pearl-street. The Vly was spoken of as early as the time of
Van Twiller. The English, adopting the soiind without the
sense of the word, called it Fly. Four years after the date of
this view, viz. in 1676, the common council ordered the tan vats
and slaughter houses to be removed out of the city, and a public
slaughter house to be erected " over the water without the gate
at the Smith's Fly, near the half moon." Asher Levy, in part-
nership with Garret Johnson Rose, uuilt this house, and received
a grant of its exclusive use. This was tlie foundation of Rose's,
or Flv-nifirket.

37

North of the Vly, and between Beeckman's-hill and the pre-
sent Frankfort-street, was a waste wet piece of ground, distin-
guished, subsequently to the present view, by the name of
BeeckmanVswamp. Jacob street, and parts of Ferry, Gold,
and William-streets, now cover it. This district of the city is
still known by the name of '' the Swamp.''

P. Weg na H vcrsche tvater. The way to the fresh water.
North of the rising ground that bounded Beeckman's-swamp,
was another, but a much lai-ger swamp meadow, or pond. It
reached the East-river, and was not completely filled up till
1794. It occupied the area of parts of the present Cherry and
Roosevelt-streets, Batavia-lane, James,01iver, Catherine, Fayette
streets, and the Jews'-alley, to Chatham-street. Thence, west-
ward, it communicated by a stream, called the fresh loater river,
with the fresh water pool, or de Kolclc. It ^las been fitted up
within a few years since, and Collect street, and others in its
vicinity, laid out in this part of the city. Some of our older in-
habitants remember when the East-river was connected with the
Kolck, or fresh water pond, by a small rivulet, which the rains
frequently increased to such a volume, that a log was required
to be laid across to walk over, and when the North-river was
similarly connected by a ditch. Near the run was a mill, pre-
viously to the year I661. In order to obtain more water for
the benefit of the mill, the valleys were granted to the miller,
and as the aqueduct, (riool) which he had dug, admitted the salt
water into the kolck (pool) of the freshwater, to the prejudice of
the community, he was required to hang a waste gate before the
aqueduct to stop the salt water, and allow the fresh water to be
drawn at low water.

Q. Wint'3Iolen. This wind-mill was erected in lC62, out-
side of the " City land port,'' (O) on the Company's farm in
Broadway, between the present Liberty and Courtlandt-streets.
The old wind-mill having decayed, upon application made to
the governor and coancil, they gave to the builders of the for-
mer the stones and iron work of the latter, on condition that

38

they should grind gratis for the compan}', "25 schepels* of
corn per week, if so much should be wanted."

Beyond the Fresh water river and Swamp-meadow, on the
East-river, was Nechta?it, the Indiah name of Corlaer's-hook,
which has been also called Crown-point. Jacobus Van Corlaer
owned the propert}', and had a plahlalion there, in the time of
Wouter Van Twiiler. De Vriez, in his Second Voyage to New
Netherlands, mentions in iGsC), " Corlaer's Plantagnie and Cor-
laer's Bouwery." He was Van Twiller's trumpeter.t On the
8th of August, " the first gunner of the fort (says De Vriez) gave
a frolick. On one of the points of the fort a tent was erected,
and tables and benches placed for the invited people. When
the glee was now at its highest, Corlaer the trumpeter began to
blow, which occasioned a quarrel, and the Koopman of the
stores, (" Koopman van de WincJcel;^') and the Koopman of the
cargoes, (" Koopman van de Cargasoenen,) gave the trumpeter
names. The trumpeter, in revenge, gave them each a drub-
bing : when they ran home for their swords, and would take
revenge of the trumpeter, and swaggering and boasting much,
went to the house of the governor, and would have eaten the
trumpeter ; but when the wine was evaporated in the morning,
their courage was somewhat lowered, and they did not endea-
vour much to find the trumpeter."

He was living in the time of Governor Stuyvuesant. In l652
he sold his property to William Beeckman, viz. " a parcel of
land at the East-river, called Corlaer's-creek, his plantation
and creek, situated on the Island Manhattans, and named in the
Indian language Nechtant, with the ground rent, for the sum of
4500 guilders, {£7^0,) provided the seller pay the ground rent
now due."

It has been supposed by some, that he was the founder of
Schenectady. But this was Antonio Van Corlaer, who was held
in the most exalted estimation by the Indians of this state, of

* About 19 bushels. i

t See also Irviug's History of New- York, by Knickerbocker.

39

the Iroquois Confede^cy. He was drowned in Lacus Irocoisa^
(Lake Champlain,) and in honour of liim, the Iroquois called the
lake after his name^ as well as Schenectady, (Corlaer,) and al-
ways addressed the governors of mis province by the title of
" Corlaer," or " Brother Corlaer/'

West of CorlaerVhook and plantation, and north of the fresh
water,was the Bouwery or farm (whence the Bowery, Bowery-lane
or street of the city") which, in l651, Governor Stuyvesant pur-
chased, with " a dwelling house, barn, reek-lands, six cows, two
horses, and two young nfegroes," for 6400 guilders. (£1066
135. 4d.)

The city of New Anisterdam v/as laid out into streets in l656.
It then comprised about 120 houses, and 1000 inhabitants, in-
cluding a numerous garrison. In l660, Governor Stuyvesant
transmitted to the directors for the department of Amsterdam, of
the West India Company, a platform, or map and survey of the
lots. In a letter to the governor, they remarked " We are gra-
tified with the sight of the maps of New Amsterdam. In our
opinion, rather large spaces are remaining without buildings, and
the distances between these are too extensive, viz. between the
Smeer-straet,* the Prince-gracht, or Prince-straet^i and the
Tui/n-straet ;l so too betAveen the Heeren-straet,^ and the Bea-'
verS'graciit^W the houses there being, to appearance, provided
with extensive garden lots. It might, perhaps, be the intention
to cut off with greater ease new streets, when, on an increased
population, of course the buildings would be approximated }
which, however, we leave entirely to your wisdom and discre-
tion."

Many of the spaces here spoken of, and hundreds of lots with,
in the city walls remained vacant at the date of this view. But
the health and comfort of the citizens were proportionably pro-

* See p. 35. t See p. 31. X (Garden-street) also called dt Warmots-
siraet. See p. 33. $ See p. 31.

II See p. 31. There were two other streets after the survey of the city,
viz. Hert-straet (Deer-street) and Minquas-strad, the location of which I am
unable at present to describe.

O

40

nioted by these, and by the numerous orehajjds, gardens, pleasine
grounds, arbours and forest trees, that ornamented and shaded
the city. It contained many handsome houses, constructed of
plain and glazed brick, and of rock stone and covered with red
and black tiles. Its aspect was diversified by hill and dale. Its
eminences were clustered with buildings, and the whole formed
a most delightful perspective from the water. These eminences
have been levelled, and a much more uniform surface is now exhi-
bited. Three streets have been made into the East-river,* and
two into the North ;t much of the very soil on which this Hercu-
laneum once stood, lies buried several feet beneath the modern
city, or is concealed by alluvial accumulation. It contained about
300 buildings,! and 25G0 inhabitants, including two or three com-
panies in garrison, and three companies of citizen soldiers.

Thus the old city of New Amsterdam, or New Orange, as it
was named one hundred and fifty-two years ago, was not much
larger than the village of New Amsterdam,^ now situated at the
foot of a chain of interior seas, the shores of which were then
untrodden by civilized man. Then Schenectady was the frontier
of the western settlement, in the latitude of this state ; — now the
mighty rush of population has overspread regions more than one
thousand miles westward from the river Hudson.

* Water-street, South and Front-streets,
t Greenwich and Washington-streets.

t Fonr years after the date of this view, a list of the building^s was tak<>n.
There were 368 within the city walls.

'^ The real name of Buft'alo, the cnpitnl of Erie county.

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